The Weather – Catalonia

The average temperature of January is 9 °C (48 °F), that of August is 24.5 °C (76 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

Barcelona

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Min (°C)

5

5

7

9

13

17

20

20

17

14

9

6

Max (°C)

14

14

16

18

21

25

28

29

26

22

17

14

Min (°F)

41

41

45

48

55

63

68

68

63

57

48

43

Max (°F)

57

57

61

64

70

77

82

84

79

72

63

57

Catalonia may be a fairly small region of Spain, but the climate varies greatly from north to south. In the coastal provinces of Tarragona, Barcelona, and Girona, you’ll find a sunny, balmy, breezy climate that’s typical of the Mediterranean. There’s a similar climate across many of the inland towns and villages, too, but in the more mountainous areas of Catalonia, the weather is vastly different. The Pyrenees harbor a definite alpine feel, with cool, chilly, and snowy winters that bring excellent winter sports conditions.

The Mediterranean climate is famous for its hot and dry summers and pleasant, refreshing sea breezes. This makes the coastal areas of Catalonia ideal for watersports including sailing, jet skiing, and even surfing. It’s not unusual for summer temperatures to reach 31 degrees Celsius — or more — in places, while winter temperatures are quite mild and enjoyable.

In contrast, the peaks of the Pyrenees are regularly snow-capped, with snow settling at lower altitudes occasionally during particularly cold weather. The Pyrenees region on the border of France experiences the most rainfall during spring and autumn, with short-lived but heavy storms common throughout the summer. However, this shouldn’t deter you from visiting Catalonia at these times of the year as cooler weather is better for walking and hiking.

The inland towns and villages of Catalonia fall somewhere in between these two extremes. They typically experience hot and dry summers; often a little hotter than the coastal regions because of the lack of sea breeze. Summers in inland Catalonia can regularly see temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. However, temperatures drop significantly overnight, and it can be a much cooler 15 degrees after dark. If you’re visiting inland towns, don’t forget to take a light jacket to stay comfortable on those cool nights.

Perhaps one of the best things about Catalonia’s varied climate is the diverse species that live in the region that thrive in these sorts of conditions. The Mediterranean/Alpine climates are ideal for wild boar, red foxes, and roe deer, along with the Pyrenean chamois, a type of goat native to the Pyrenees. Once thought to be near extinction, is it believed that there are 25,000 in the area today.

With sunny, hot summers and winters that are either remarkably mild or crisp and frosty depending on the area, Catalonia has become a popular all-year holiday destination, with visitors making the trip to Northern Spain during all four seasons. Hot and dry days are ideal for visiting the coastal towns, taking a dip in the water, and topping up the tan, or hiking along one of the region’s many trails.

Colder, rainy weather, on the other hand, is perfect for popping in and out of the shops along Barcelona’s Las Ramblas, for enjoying some of the city’s art museums and religious structures, or for taking a scenic train ride to other areas of Catalonia. Rain or sun, hot or cold, there’s never a bad time to visit Catalonia.